India Test
Bangladesh team named
Mushfiq returns, Fizz out
Sports Reporter
Batsman Liton Das made his way to the national team following an impressive performance in the domestic circuit as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday announced a 15-member team for the one-off Test in India, their first in the neighbouring country since attaining the Test status in 2000.
Mushfiqur Rahim is back to the team as captain aftermissing the Christchurch Test due to the injury. Another two injured player opener Imrul Kayes and middle order batsman Mominul Haque also returned to the squad, showing the necessary fitness to play at the highest level.
Fast bowler Shafiul Islam who missed the New Zealand series due to his injury, got back to the side as it was speculated. But pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman was left out after considered of not getting Test match fitness.
Mustafizur missed both Tests in New Zealand with a hamstring injury. According to chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu, Mustafizur hasnt had enough game ever since his recovery from his shoulder operation to play a Test match. Even though he doesnt have any problem medically, he still needs to work on his skill fitness. In Test cricket a bowler needs to send down many overs for which his body is not fully prepared, Nannu said in a press conference while announcing the team.
We kept him in the squad of Christchurch Test but that was an extraordinary situation because we havent had enough options that time because of the injury of some players.
Coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who was also present at the press conference, said that they were hoping to get Mustafizur fit for the Sri Lanka series.
The bowler however himself is believed to not to be confident enough about his fitness ever since he developed a back pain injury alongside hamstring injury during the New Zealand tour.
Mustafizur made himself as the home boy of Hyderabad, which will host the Test match, during his stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last IPL. He was instruments in the teams maiden title in the cash-rich tournament.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Nurul Hasan and Rubel Hossain were the omissions from the Christchurch squad along with Mustafizur.
The axe of Nurul Hasan who made his debut because of Mushfiqur Rahims injury was curious because of his bold performance in his maiden Test amid a sensational Bangladesh batting collapse. He was not bad behind the wicket as well but still he was dropped in favour of Liton Das.
Liton failed to live up to the expectation in his first stint with the national team. With 97 runs in three innings of three Tests, including a half-century, his longer version performance wasnt questionable but the performance in T20 and ODI cricket couldnt justify the immense talent he got. He though finally was dropped from the national team for his injury.
However a gutsy double century for Islami Bank East Zone in the first round of Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) was timely and forced his case stronger. Chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu said he was considered ahead of Nurul Hasan because of his superior batting ability. If Mushfiqur Rahim is injured or unable to keep the wicket, Liton could take the place and also could increase the depth of the batting line up, according to Nannu.
Nurul is in our pool also but Liton was considered for his superior batting performance. Nurul is a better wicket-keeper, still you need some batting depth because in India the batsmen generally struggle against the hosts, he said.
The BCB considered Abu Jayed as extra pacer in India to play the practice match only as they want the main pacers to take rest ahead of the Test match. Bangladesh will leave the country today for Hyderabad. They will play a practice match against India A on February 5-9 before the first Test starts on February 9.
Squad: Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehedi Hasan, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, Subashis Roy, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shafiul Islam
